.308 M2 Ball

SquirrelNuts · October 12, 2002, 07:59 PM

I am shopping around for .308 M2 BALL rounds for loading .30-06, and I always thought it was a 150 gr. FMJ round. I am seeing .308 M2 BALL listed as 147 gr., 150 gr., and 152 gr. on different sites (all list as FMJ). Is the 147 gr. really FMJBT, as I have seen that before? Is there going to be a big difference between the three assuming they are all FMJ?

-SquirrelNuts

Fred S · October 12, 2002, 10:01 PM

Squirrel:

M2 Ball is 150 gr FMJ Flat based bullets used in the US military .30-06 ammuntion.

M80 Ball is 147gr FMJBT bullets used in US and NATO military 7.62x51mm ammuniton.

Both are available and somewhat interchangeable.

Fred

zanthope · October 12, 2002, 10:44 PM

As Fred noted above, the 147 is for .308 (7.62 X 51.) The cannelure is placed for .308, and will sit a little lower in a 30-06 case.

If you don't crimp, it doesn't matter at all.

I bought some 147 Win recently for my newest reloading project - a stock Garand. On top of 49 gr of Ramshot Tac, they're my best effort so far.

swampyMO · October 14, 2002, 06:45 AM

Squirrel Nuts,

The 147 gr. fmjbt 7.62 slugs that Wideners sells for $63.00 a thousand DELIVERED are supposed to be from the same factory that makes that really nice FNM Portugese .308 ammo.

I've shot quite a few of them in my Garands in the last couple of years with excellent results. For best accuracy you do have to seat them a bit long in the case. The cannelure is fully exposed.

Garands forever,
Swampy

Cheapo · October 14, 2002, 11:13 PM

Conversely, if you buy .30-06 M2 Ball bullets to load in 7.62mm NATO, you must not use the crimping groove/channelure if'n you want to load them in the magazine.

The rounds would wind up sumpin' like .05 over length and be single-load only in most, if not all, semiauto magazines.

Southla1 · October 17, 2002, 10:08 PM

I load the 150 grain ball, the 147 grain ball, 163 grain AP, 145 grain Tracer, 168 grain Match Kings, and the 173 grain GI match ball and seat all of them to different depths to get the same OAL for all loads. That way they will function in the M-1 or a bolt rifle. I have never seen the need to crimp even for M-1 loads. A tight sized case will hold the bullet just as tight as a crimped load IMHO.

Of course the POWDER CHARGE is different in these loads!

Cheapo · October 18, 2002, 12:39 AM

.30-06 with a properly sized case and good jacketed bullets, a totally powderless load will NOT budge the bullet out of the neck.

I did it once in rapid-fire.

October 12, 2002, 07:59 PM	#1
SquirrelNuts Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2002 Location: Marietta, GA-home of the Big Chicken Posts: 247	.308 M2 Ball I am shopping around for .308 M2 BALL rounds for loading .30-06, and I always thought it was a 150 gr. FMJ round. I am seeing .308 M2 BALL listed as 147 gr., 150 gr., and 152 gr. on different sites (all list as FMJ). Is the 147 gr. really FMJBT, as I have seen that before? Is there going to be a big difference between the three assuming they are all FMJ? -SquirrelNuts

October 12, 2002, 10:01 PM	#2
Fred S Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 1999 Location: New Baltimore, MI Posts: 569	Squirrel: M2 Ball is 150 gr FMJ Flat based bullets used in the US military .30-06 ammuntion. M80 Ball is 147gr FMJBT bullets used in US and NATO military 7.62x51mm ammuniton. Both are available and somewhat interchangeable. Fred __________________ Fred S GO ARMY

October 12, 2002, 10:44 PM	#3
zanthope Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 258	As Fred noted above, the 147 is for .308 (7.62 X 51.) The cannelure is placed for .308, and will sit a little lower in a 30-06 case. If you don't crimp, it doesn't matter at all. I bought some 147 Win recently for my newest reloading project - a stock Garand. On top of 49 gr of Ramshot Tac, they're my best effort so far. __________________ We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then it gets worse.

October 14, 2002, 11:13 PM	#5
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	Conversely, if you buy .30-06 M2 Ball bullets to load in 7.62mm NATO, you must not use the crimping groove/channelure if'n you want to load them in the magazine. The rounds would wind up sumpin' like .05 over length and be single-load only in most, if not all, semiauto magazines. __________________ Let us never forget that the only legitimate source of government power is the citizens. If WE cannot exercise a certain power, we cannot grant it to the state.

October 18, 2002, 12:39 AM	#7
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	.30-06 with a properly sized case and good jacketed bullets, a totally powderless load will NOT budge the bullet out of the neck. I did it once in rapid-fire. __________________ Let us never forget that the only legitimate source of government power is the citizens. If WE cannot exercise a certain power, we cannot grant it to the state.

October 14, 2002, 06:45 AM	#4
swampyMO Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 1999 Location: Missouri Posts: 327	Squirrel Nuts, The 147 gr. fmjbt 7.62 slugs that Wideners sells for $63.00 a thousand DELIVERED are supposed to be from the same factory that makes that really nice FNM Portugese .308 ammo. I've shot quite a few of them in my Garands in the last couple of years with excellent results. For best accuracy you do have to seat them a bit long in the case. The cannelure is fully exposed. Garands forever, Swampy

October 17, 2002, 10:08 PM	#6
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	I load the 150 grain ball, the 147 grain ball, 163 grain AP, 145 grain Tracer, 168 grain Match Kings, and the 173 grain GI match ball and seat all of them to different depths to get the same OAL for all loads. That way they will function in the M-1 or a bolt rifle. I have never seen the need to crimp even for M-1 loads. A tight sized case will hold the bullet just as tight as a crimped load IMHO. Of course the POWDER CHARGE is different in these loads!

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